DeAndre Jordan is about to become very popular with the NBA offseason quickly approaching. The center will be an unrestricted free agent with plenty of teams lining up to discuss contract terms with him. The Los Angeles Clippers will get first crack at Jordan and plan on offering a max deal. However, will reported tension with Chris Paul force Jordan to head elsewhere?
According to Bill Reiter of FOX Sports, Paul and Jordan had a falling out towards the end of the season as the point guard felt the center was not committed to working on his free throws and running drills with the shooting coach. Team sources report that things are not good between the two stars which could push Jordan out in free agency. Reiter believes things are just bad enough that Jordan would leave regardless of the max contract potential.
Doc Rivers told press following the loss to the Houston Rockets that keeping Jordan was a priority and the Clippers would not hesitate to offer the max money available to the center. However, other teams are ready to call his camp and discuss terms. Most recently the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks have emerged as front runners for Jordan as they offer the center the chance to become a star with the team instead of the No. 3 guy.
According to the Oregonian, the Portland Trail Blazers are targeting Jordan in an effort to keep LaMarcus Aldridge around. The team has enough salary cap space to offer Aldridge his required amount of money along with signing Jordan. With Robin Lopez becoming a free agent, Jordan would be the ideal replacement. The issue is that he would be going from one third-wheel situation to another.
ESPN.com reports that Jordan will be targeted by the Dallas Mavericks especially if Aldridge signs back on with Portland. Jordan is a younger version of Tyson Chandler who will be a free agent this summer. He has expressed interest in returning, but if the Mavericks can grab Jordan instead, they will. The team has the money to offer a max deal. They were expected to offer it to Rajon Rondo, but that ship has sailed.
Jordan will be expensive. A max deal with the Clippers could reach five years and $100 million. Los Angeles can offer him the most money of any other team, so Jordan must decide what is worth it if the tension with Paul is true.
